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Sand sole[edit]

Introduction[edit]

File:Psettichthys melanostictus (Sand Sole).jpg
Psettichthys melanostictus (Sand Sole)

The Pacific sand sole, Psettichthys melanostictus, is the only fish in the genus Psettichthys of the Pleuronectidae family.

Taxonomy/Description[edit]

The pacific sand sole belongs to the Pleuronectiformes order and the family Pleuronectidae. They are considered a flatfish due to their body shape, just like Hippoglossus (halibuts), Solea (soles), and Platichthys (flounders).[1] This fish can get over 62.95cm (24.78in) in length and on average this fish can weigh approximately 2.484kg (5.476lbs).[2] [3] They can come in a variety of colors like gray, green, or brown with blotches of dark brown or black on the side with both of its eyes. The underside is usually white.[2] [3] By obtaining these colors the pacific sand sole fish will have a better advantage of camouflaging into their soundings, making them harder to see by their pray.

Life cycle[edit]

When they are first born their eyes are on both sides of their body like other fish. However, when the pacific sand sole starts to mature one of their eyes starts to migrate to either the left or the right side of their body, just like flounder when their eyes migrate.[4] From that point on their eyes will stay that way. They will live on the bottom of the ocean, on the sand, lying on one side of their body, while both of their eyes are on top of their body.

Habitat[edit]

These fish can be found in and around the Bering Sea all the way down to Southern California, in the North Pacific ocean. These fish will stay on the bottom of the ocean at an average of 155m (508.53ft).[2] [3] They live on the sandy bottoms of the ocean.

References[edit]

  1. ^ last1=Castro|last2=Huber, first1=Peter|first2=Michael E. (2013). Marine Biology. New York: McGraw-Hill. p. 158. ISBN 978-0-07-352420-7. {{cite book}}: Missing pipe in: |first= (help); Missing pipe in: |last= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b c last1=Pearson|last2=McNally, first1=Donald E.|first2=Samuel V.G. "Age, Growth, Life History, and Fisheries of the Sand Sole, Psettichthys melanostictus" (PDF). Marine Fisheries Review. {{cite web}}: Missing pipe in: |first= (help); Missing pipe in: |last= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b c "Bottomfish Identification Guide: Sand Sole (Psettichthys melanostictus) | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife". wdfw.wa.gov. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  4. ^ "Southern flounder and gulf flounder, flounders of the Mississippi Gulf Coast - Interesting Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico and Coastal Mississippi". gcrl.usm.edu. Retrieved 2016-04-03.